Virtual image display device and manufacturing method of virtual image display device

Abstract

In fabrication of a light guiding unit, a half mirror layer as a reflection film for folding light is covered by a light transmission main body part as a coating member, i.e., a light transmission member, and a hard coating layer is deposited thereon. Therefore, even when the surfaces of a light guide main body part and the light transmission main body part forming the light guiding unit are cleansed as pre-processing of the deposition of the hard coating layer, the situations such that the half mirror layer is separated thereby may be avoided and optical properties of the half mirror layer may not be lost.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]1. Technical Field[0002]The present invention relates to a virtual image display device such as a head-mounted display mounted on a head.[0003]2. Related Art[0004]Recently, as virtual image display devices that enable formation and observation of virtual images like head-mounted displays, various devices of a type of guiding image light from a display element to eyes of an observer using a light guide plate have been proposed (see Patent Document 1 (JP-A-2008-172367) and Patent Document 2 (JP-A-2000-249969)). For example, see-through systems that can superimpose image light and external light by incorporating hologram elements in the light guide plates have been proposed (see Patent Document 3 (JP-A-2007-240924)). Further, not for the head-mounted display, a technology of providing a hard coating layer for protection of surfaces of resin molded components has been generally known (see Patent Document 4 (JP-A-2009-51920)).[0005]In the head-mounted display, in order to...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide a virtual image display device having a hard coating layer in which damage may be suppressed and soiling on surfaces may be removed and optical properties may be maintained in good condition and a method of manufacturing the virtual image display device.

[0009]In the virtual image display device, the hard coating layer is deposited under the condition that the reflection part for folding light as the optical element incorporated in the light guide unit for light guide is coated by the coating member. Therefore, even when the surface of the light transmission main body part forming the light guide unit is cleansed as the pre-processing of the deposition of the hard coating layer in the fabrication of the virtual image display device, for example, the situations such that the reflection part for folding light is separated thereby may be avoided and the optical properties of the reflection part may not be lost. According to the configuration, in the virtual image display device, the hard coating layer is provided and damage may be suppressed and soiling on the surfaces may be removed, and the optical properties may be maintained in good condition. Note that the reflection part includes various parts that fold image light and transmit external light. That is, the reflection part includes various semi-transmissive reflection parts not only of a semi-transmissive reflection film formed by deposition of a metal reflection film and a dielectric multilayer film but also of a semi-transmissive member having semi-transmissive reflectivity, a semi-transmissive sheet, a hologram element that acts only on light in a specific wavelength range and transmits light in other wavelength ranges.

[0014]In the virtual image display device, after the deposition of the hard coating layer, the reflection part for folding light is formed. Therefore, even when the surface of the light guide main body part forming the light guide unit is cleansed as the pre-processing of the deposition of the hard coating layer in the fabrication of the virtual image display device, for example, the situations such that the reflection part for folding light is separated thereby may not be caused and the optical properties of the reflection part may not be lost. According to the configuration, in the virtual image display device, the hard coating layer is provided and damage may be suppressed and soiling on the surfaces may be removed, and the optical properties may be maintained in good condition.

[0017]In still another specific aspect of the invention, the reflection part for folding light is a mirror film that is provided at the light-incident part side and guides the image light to the light guide part. In this case, by protecting the mirror film, good transmission of image light may be performed.

[0021]In the manufacturing method of the virtual image display device, the reflection part for folding light fabricated in the fabricating is covered by the coating member in the coating, and the hard coating layer may be deposited in the depositing without influence on the reflection part for folding light. Therefore, in the depositing, even when the surface of the light guide main body part forming the light guide unit is cleansed as the pre-processing of the deposition, the situations such that the reflection part for folding light is separated thereby may be avoided and the optical properties of the reflection part may not be lost. In this manner, in the virtual image display device fabricated by the manufacturing method, the hard coating layer is provided and damage may be suppressed and soiling on the surfaces may be removed, and the optical properties may be maintained in good condition.

[0023]In the virtual image display device, after the hard coating layer is deposited in the depositing, the reflection part for folding light is formed on the hard coating layer in the fabricating. Therefore, in the depositing, even when the surface of the light guide main body part forming the light guide unit is cleansed as the pre-processing of the deposition of the hard coating layer, the situations such that the reflection part for folding light is separated thereby may not be caused and the optical properties of the reflection part may not be lost. In this manner, in the virtual image display device fabricated by the manufacturing method, the hard coating layer is provided and damage may be suppressed and soiling on the surfaces may be removed, and the optical properties may be maintained in good condition.

Problems solved by technology

Accordingly, for example, if cleansing is performed as pre-processing of the deposition of the hard coating layer, the optical elements provided in the light guide part may be separated and otherwise, light guide performance or the like may be deteriorated.

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